Simplified mounting arrangement

ABSTRACT

A simplified and highly effective mounting arrangement for the cleaning head or other component of a vacuum cleaner or the like, involving the use of interfitting, generally cylindrically shaped members, which arrangement enables the head to be quickly removed merely by the application of foot pressure on a lever, and thereafter easily reinstalled upon the vacuum cleaner with but single handed effort.

0 United States Patent [151 3,674,287

Sel1ey July 4, 1972 54] SIMPLIFIED MOUNTING 1,691,851 11/1928 McCuean..285/81 ARRANGEMENT 1,885,321 11/1932 Benn ..285/85 2,648,553 8/1953Ulrich ..285/361 X [72] Inventor. WIIDur-Webb Selley, Maitland, Fla.3,203,714 8/1965 Cmnk miss/359 X [73] Assignee: Vactronics Incorporated,Olando, Fla. 3,309,113 3/1967 Beach ..285/7 [22] Filed: 1969 PrimaryExaminer-Dave W. Arola [21] App1.No.: 887,553 Attorney-Julian C. Renfro52 0.8. Ci ..285/7, 285/314, 285/396 [571 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl...A47l9/24 A i lifi d and highly ff ti mounting arrangement for [58]Field of Search ..285/7, 317, 314, 362, 377, the cleaning head or othercomponent f a vacuum cleaner or 285/376 3951 the like, involving the useof interfitting, generally cylindri- 402 cally shaped members, whicharrangement enables the head to be quickly removed merely by theapplication of foot pressure [56] References Cited on a lever, andthereafter easily reinstalled upon the vacuum UNITED STATES PATENTScleaner with but single handed effort.

931,327 8/1909 Nunzel ..285/9O X 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL'4 1912 3. 574, 28? sum 1 or a,

FIG.

INVENTOR WILBUR WEBB SELLEY PATENTEDJuL' 4 1972 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTORWILBUR- WEBB SELLEY ATTORNEY P'ATENTmJuL M912 8,674,287

SHEET 30F 3 INVENTOR WILBUR WEBB SELLEY ATTORNEY SIMPLIFIED MOUNTINGARRANGEMENT RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR INVENTION This invention is related tothe co-pending application of W. W. Selley and Richard H. Schafferentitled Vacuum Cleaner and Power Unit, filed June 20, 1968, Ser. No.738,595.

BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventioncan be categorized with attachment devices utilized on the front ofvacuum cleaners and the like whereby the cleaning head or otherimplements or components can be attached and thereafter removed.

2. Description of the Prior Art The pertinent prior art is believed toprincipally involve certain pieces of mechanical apparatus utilized forsupporting the cleaning head, suction nozzle, or other componentassociated with cleaning devices in operative position. Unfortunately,such prior art devices were complicated, expensive, and difficult tooperate, and frequently involved the use of hand operated levers, bolts,and other securing means. In addition, the securing means frequently hadto be utilized in addition to belt lifters and other components thatwere involved in the prior art designs.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION The present invention is based upon the use ofinterfitting components in the nature of generally cylindrical members,which can be easily locked together by a third member surrounding one ofthe interfitting members. One of the generally cylindrical interfittingmembers is provided with a plurality of spaced projections thereon, andthe other generally cylindrical member is provided with recesses spacedto receive such projections when the members have been interfitted. Thethird or locking member is in the nature of a rotatable ring arranged tobe selectively movable toward and away from a position in which portionsof the ring prevent movement of the projections out of the recesses.

The locking ring is preferably spring biased into the locking position,but is typically provided with an operating lever so that the user ofthe device from a standing position can cause separation of theinterfitting members merely by stepping on the lever. Advantageously,the locking ring is configured so that when the interfitting members areto be refitted together, motion in the interfitting direction causes thelocking ring to rotate automatically so that the spaced projections canbe admitted into the recesses of the other member as well as into angledslots in the locking member. These angled slots, upon the locking memberbeing caused to rotate by pressure on the operating lever, areresponsible for causing the interfitting members to be easily yetforcefully separated. Thereafter, by a simple, one-handed operation, thecomponents can be was sembled.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide a novel,easily operated and highly effective mounting arrangement whereby twogenerally cylindrical members can be removably held in interfittingrelation.

It is another object of my invention to provide a low cost arrangementfor effectively securing a cleaning head or other component upon avacuum cleaner or similar device.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a simplifiedarrangement by the use of which components can be readily added orremoved from a cleaning device without the necessity for levers, boltsor the like to be manipulated.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a mountingarrangement in which interfitting components can be quickly separated byfoot pressure, and the components thereafter reassembled with but theuse of one hand.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be more apparentfrom a study of the appended drawings in which:

cleaner, with the rug nozzle or cleaning head removed to reveal thenovel mounting arrangement in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to a somewhat smaller scale, revealing themanner by which a user causes separation of the cleaning head with footpressure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the: blower housing of a vacuum cleaner,upon which is mounted one of the generally cylindrical members that isinterfitted in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the operating lever and locking ringcomponent which is to be mounted upon the generally cylindrical membershown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plate upon which the other of thegenerallycylindrical members to be interfitted is mounted;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the generally cylindrical membersin interfitting relationship, and revealing the locking ring in thelocking position; and

FIG. 7 is a view related to FIG. 6 but showing how upon rotation, thelocking ring causes the expulsion of one interfitting member from theother, this being brought about forcefully yet effectively.

Turning to FIG. 1 it will be noted that I have there shown a vacuumcleaner arrangement in which the rug nozzle assembly or cleaning headunit 12 has been removed from the wheeled motor portion or power unit 11in order to reveal the construction pertinent to this invention. Theappearance of the vacuum cleaner with the rug nozzle in place isillustrated to a smaller scale in FIG. 2, as is the manner in which theuser applies her foot on separation lever 20 in order to bring about onoccasion the separation of the rug nozzle 12 from the rest of themachine. The foregoing reference numerals as well as certain otherreference numerals used hereinafter are the same as those used in parentapplication Ser. No. 738,595.

As will be noted in FIG. 1 from an inspection of the rear portion of thecleaning head 12, a plate 36 is there shown, on which is centrallydisposed a ring shaped mounting member 41, around the outer periphery ofwhich a plurality of lugs or projections 42 are disposed at spacedlocations. The member 41 may hereinafter be referred to as the firstgenerally cylindrical member. On the front of the power unit 11 isdisposed a somewhat similarly shaped inlet pipe or nipple 26 which isslightly larger in diameter than the member 41, so that it can receivethe member 41 when the cleaning head 12 is to be installed in itsoperative position on the power unit. Appropriate slots or recesses 27are disposed about the female member 26 in the proper spacing, width andorientation in order that the lugs 42 of the rug nozzle may be received.The member 26 may hereinafter be referred to as the second generallycylindrical member, and it may be integral with or attached to theblower housing 25. Further details of this construction will be moreapparent as the description proceeds.

Also revealed in FIGS. 1 and 2 are the wheels 17 upon which the motorunit 11 is movable, the carrying handle 14, the tiltable headlight unit16, the height adjustment lever 21, and the separating lever or pedal 20that is manipulated by the foot of the user at such time as the rugnozzle 12 is to be removed. It will be noted that any implement to beutilized in lieu of the rug nozzle will be equipped with a male mountingboss or generally cylindrical member similar or identical to the member41 shown at the rear of the present rug nozzle.

As will be apparent from a further study of FIG. 1, an aperture isdisposed in the interior of generally cylindrical shaped member 41,through which dirt picked up by the rug nozzle is carried into theinterior of the motor unit. Centrally disposed in this aperture is acoupling 38 by which the rotary brush (not shown) disposed in the lowerportion of the nozzle 12 is driven in rotation. at such time as themember 26 has received the member 41, for at that time the coupling 38is received upon the driving shaft 39 disposed in the interior of member26. The shaft 39 is of course driven by the electric motor (not shown)disposed in power unit 11.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that I have there shown the frontportion of a casting 25 utilized to form the blower housing portion ofthe power unit 11, with the generally cylindrical female member 26 beingdisposed about a central aperture 30. The plurality of recesses or slots27 provided at spaced locations about member 26 are to be seen in thisfigure, as is the spring 29. The member 26 does not have a smooth outersurface, but rather has valleys or indentations 32 therein, there beingthree in this instance, which are spaced about the exterior of member26.

FIG. 4 reveals the separating lever 20 in exploded relation to theblower housing 25, and it is to be understood that the ring shapedportion 58 of the lever 20 is of a diameter that surrounds the generallycylindrically shaped member 26, in the manner shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.However, I prefer that the interior of the ring shaped portion 58 not bein sliding contact with the exterior of member 26, but rather I providethree spaced shoulders or engagement members 33 on the interior ofmember 58, which engage a suitable circular recess 34 about the outerrear portion of the member 26, which recess extends behind the raisedportions 35 disposed between the indentations 32. At the time of theinstallation of the lever 20, it is rotated so that the engagementmembers 33 coincide with the location of the indentations 32, so thatthe ring shaped portion 58 can be pushed all the way onto the member 26.Then, the lever 20 is rotated into the position shown in FIG. 6, whichcauses the engagement members to be disposed in the circular recess 34,behind the raised portions 35 of the member 26, which of course servesto lock the lever 20 in place. A portion (not shown) on the rear of thelever-ring member may extend into the slot in which the compressionspring is mounted, to engage one end of the spring 29. Suitable stopsmay be used to limit rotation of member 58 of lever 20 to a suitable arcof travel.

As will be described, when the user steps upon the extended portion ofthe lever 20 to cause rotation of the ring shaped member 58 with respectto the mounting member 26, this brings about ejection and removal of thecleaning head 12 from the motor unit 11. A plurality of angled slots 59involving the use of inclined ramps 62 are disposed about the peripheryof the member 58, placed so as to generally coincide with the locationof the recesses 27, and these aid in such cleaning head removal.

In FIG. is revealed cleaning head plate 36 which may be a casting uponwhich the ring shaped mounting member 41 may be disposed. The member 41may either be an integral part of the casting, or else a member securedupon the plate 36. A plurality of screw holes 44 are disposed adjacentthe corners of the plate so that by the use of suitable screws, thisplate can be removably secured to the upper rear portion of the cleaninghead 12. In the interior of the member 41 is revealed a portion of thegear box 40 associated with one type of driving means for the rotarybrush (not shown) which is located in the lower front portion of the rugnozzle. However, in some embodiments, such a gear box is not used.Between the gear box and the ring 41 is an aperture 45 through which airis drawn as a result of the efforts of the blower (not shown) locatedbehind the casting 25. As previously mentioned, the placement of thelugs or projections 42 about the outer surface of the ring 41 is such asto agree with the positioning of the slots 27 and the angled slots 59associated with the securing arrangement on the front of the blowerhousing. All of these members may be made of metal or plastic.

Turning to related FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the ring shapedmounting member 41 associated with the cleaning head has been showninserted in assembled relation with the female inlet pipe or nipple 26that is mounted on the front of the blower case. Only the rearmostportion of the mounting member 41 of the cleaning head is illustrated inthese figures for reasons of clarity. As will be apparent, theprojections or lugs 42 disposed about the male member 41 have been shownreceived into the slots 27 formed in the nipple 26. It will beadditionally apparent that the lugs 42 have been received in the angledslots 59 of the ring 58, with the ring 58 thereafter having been rotateda few degrees so as to cause a locking action to take place, in whichthe points 60 formed in the angled slots 59 prevent the lugs 42 frommoving out of the slots 27. The compression spring 29 serves to bias thelever 20 into the upper position shown in FIG. 6, such that the ringportion 58 resides in the locking position.

It should also be noted in FIGS. 4 and 6 that the angled slots 59 eachhave a long sloped portion or inclined ramp 62'serving to define therearmost edge of the slot 59, as well as a short angled portion 64immediately in front of each point 60. As will be noted from aninspection of the figures of drawing, the

inclined ramp portions 62 are of a smooth, substantially un-.

broken contour, extending the length of the slots 59. The reason forthese configurations will soon be apparent.

Turning now to FIG. 7 it will be noted that the elongated portion of thelever 20 has been moved to its lower position against the bias of spring29, with this motion serving to cause movement of the ring portion 58with respect to the lugs 42. This motion of course serves to bring theinclined ramp portion 62 of each of the slots 59 into forceful contactwith the rear portion of each lug 42 as viewed in FIG. 7, with theapplication of this long, continuous surface smoothly causing theexpulsion of the spaced projections 42 from their recesses 27 This ofcourse causes the nozzle assembly 12 to be separated from the motor unit12. Thereafter, the lever 20 including the ring portion 58 is caused toreturn to approximately the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, due to theinfluence of spring 29.

Re-insertion of the nozzle assembly 12 on the front of the power unit issimplified by the provision of the bevel 28 adjacent the forward portionof each recess 27, and the short sloped portion 64 in front of each ofthe points 60 on the ring 58. As is obvious, under the influence ofspring 29, the portions 28 and 64 are caused to reside relatively closetogether, but upon the rounded projections 42 being caused to be pushedagainst the portions 28 and 64, the portions 64 are caused to move inthe clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6, thus causing ring 58 torotate and admit the projections into inner portions of the slots 27,and of course into the innermost portions of the angled slots 59.Thereafter, the spring 29 functions to rotate the ring shaped portion 58counterclockwise to the position in which the points 60 of the angledslots prevent undesired displacement of the projections 42 from theslots 27. This is a simple operation to perform, and the housewife canaccomplish the reinsertion procedure using only one hand.

Iclaim:

1. An arrangement for removably securing in interfitting concentricrelation, a pair of generally cylindrical members, said arrangementcomprising a first generally cylindrical member having a plurality ofspaced projections thereon, and a second generally cylindrical memberhaving recesses spaced to receive said projections when said membershave been interfitted, a locking ring rotatable about the axis of saidcylindrical members mounted around said second cylindrical member andmeans for holding said ring against axial movement on said secondmember, said rotatable locking ring being arranged to be selectivelymovable toward and away from a position in which portions of said ringprevent movement of said projections out of said recesses, said portionsof said ring serving a locking function when said ring is rotated in onedirection, and means on said ring engaging said projections duringrotation of the ring in the opposite direction for positively drivingsaid projections completely out of said recesses, said engaging meanstraversing the whole length of each of said recesses during rotation ofsaid ring in said opposite direction.

2. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, in which a foot pedal isattached to said ring, with pressure on said pedal causing ring rotationto separate said cylindrical members.

' 3. The arrangement as defined in claim 2 in which said ring is springbiased in the rotative direction opposite the rotation caused by pedalpressure.

4. The arrangement as defined in claim 3 in which portions of said ringare angled and configured so that as said spaced projections are pushedagainst such portions, said ring is caused to rotate to admit saidspaced projections, and thereafter to rotate back into the lockingposition under the influence of said spring bias.

5. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which the cylindricalmembers are hollow so that air can flow through them, said locking ringhas angled slots therein generally coinciding with the placement of saidrecesses, said portions of said ring which prevent movement of saidprojections out of said recesses being end portions of said slots, saidlocking ring is nonnally spring biased to a rotative position to preventmovement of said projections out of said recesses and lock saidcylindrical members together and said locking ring has means associatedtherewith to cause rotation against its bias.

6. The arrangement as defined in claim 5 in which the means on saidringengaging said projections for positively driving said projectionscompletely out of said recesses are inclined ramp portions extendingsubstantially the entire length of said angled slots.

7. The arrangement as defined in claim S-in which portions of said ringare angled and configured so that as said spaced projections are pushedagainst such portions, said ring is caused to rotate to admit saidspaced projections, and thereafter to rotate back into the lockingposition under the influence of said spring bias.

1. An arrangement for removably securing in interfitting concentricrelation, a pair of generally cylindrical members, said arrangementcomprising a first generally cylindrical member having a plurality ofspaced projections thereon, and a second generally cylindrical memberhaving recesses spaced to receive said projections when said membershave been interfitted, a locking ring rotatable about the axis of saidcylindrical members mounted around said second cylindrical member andmeans for holding said ring against axial movement on said secondmember, said rotatable locking ring being arranged to be selectivelymovable toward and away from a position in which portions of said ringprevent movement of said projections out of said recesses, said portionsof said ring serving a locking function when said ring is rotated in onedirection, and means on said ring engaging said projections duringrotation of the ring in the opposite direction for positively drivingsaid projections completely out of said recesses, said engaging meanstraversing the whole length of each of said recesses during rotation ofsaid ring in said opposite direction.
 2. The arrangement as defined inclaim 1, in which a foot pedal is attached to said ring, with pressureon said pedal causing ring rotation to separate said cylindricalmembers.
 3. The arrangement as defined in claim 2 in which said ring isspring biased in the rotative direction opposite the rotation caused bypedal pressure.
 4. The arrangement as defined in claim 3 in whichportions of said ring are angled and configured so that as said spacedprojections are pushed against such portions, said ring is caused torotate to admit said spaced projections, and thereafter to rotate backinto the locking position under the influence of said spring bias. 5.The arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which the cylindrical membersare hollow so that air can flow through them, said locking ring hasangled slots therein generally coinciding with the placement of saidrecesses, said portions of said ring which prevent movement of saidprojections out of said recesses being end portions of said slots, saidlocking ring is normally spring biased to a rotative position to preventmovement of said projections out of said recesses and lock saidcylindrical members together and said locking ring has means associatedtherewith to cause rotation against its bias.
 6. The arrangement asdefined in claim 5 in which the means on said ring engaging saidprojections for positively driving said projections completely out ofsaid recesses are inclined ramp portions extending substantially theentire length of said angled slots.
 7. The arrangement as defined inclaim 5 in which portions of said ring are angled and configured so thatas said spaced projections are pushed against such portions, said ringis caused to rotate to admit said spaced projections, and thereafter torotate back into the locking position under the influence of said springbias.